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Felber BK, Valentin A, Rosati M, Bergamaschi C, Pavlakis GN. HIV DNA Vaccine: Stepwise Improvements Make a Difference. Vaccines (Basel) 2014; 2:354-79. [PMID: 26344623 PMCID: PMC4494255 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines2020354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Revised: 04/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Inefficient DNA delivery methods and low expression of plasmid DNA have been major obstacles for the use of plasmid DNA as vaccine for HIV/AIDS. This review describes successful efforts to improve DNA vaccine methodology over the past ~30 years. DNA vaccination, either alone or in combination with other methods, has the potential to be a rapid, safe, and effective vaccine platform against AIDS. Recent clinical trials suggest the feasibility of its translation to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara K Felber
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, P.O. Box B, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Antonio Valentin
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, P.O. Box B, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Margherita Rosati
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, P.O. Box B, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - Cristina Bergamaschi
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, P.O. Box B, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
| | - George N Pavlakis
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, P.O. Box B, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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Fleta-Soriano E, Martinez JP, Hinkelmann B, Gerth K, Washausen P, Diez J, Frank R, Sasse F, Meyerhans A. The myxobacterial metabolite ratjadone A inhibits HIV infection by blocking the Rev/CRM1-mediated nuclear export pathway. Microb Cell Fact 2014; 13:17. [PMID: 24475978 PMCID: PMC3910686 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2859-13-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Accepted: 01/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The nuclear export of unspliced and partially spliced HIV-1 mRNA is mediated by the recognition of a leucine-rich nuclear export signal (NES) in the HIV Rev protein by the host protein CRM1/Exportin1. This makes the CRM1-Rev complex an attractive target for the development of new antiviral drugs. Here we tested the anti-HIV efficacy of ratjadone A, a CRM1 inhibitor derived from myxobacteria. RESULTS Ratjadone A inhibits HIV infection in vitro in a dose-dependent manner with EC₅₀ values at the nanomolar range. The inhibitory effect of ratjadone A occurs around 12 hours post-infection and is specific for the Rev/CRM1-mediated nuclear export pathway. By using a drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) assay we could demonstrate that ratjadone A interferes with the formation of the CRM1-Rev-NES complex by binding to CRM1 but not to Rev. CONCLUSION Ratjadone A exhibits strong anti-HIV activity but low selectivity due to toxic effects. Although this limits its potential use as a therapeutic drug, further studies with derivatives of ratjadones might help to overcome these difficulties in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Fleta-Soriano
- Infection Biology Group, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr. Aiguader 88 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier P Martinez
- Infection Biology Group, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr. Aiguader 88 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bettina Hinkelmann
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Klaus Gerth
- Department of Microbial Drugs, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Peter Washausen
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Juana Diez
- Molecular Virology Group, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ronald Frank
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Florenz Sasse
- Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Andreas Meyerhans
- Infection Biology Group, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr. Aiguader 88 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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Byrareddy SN, Ayash-Rashkovsky M, Kramer VG, Lee SJ, Correll M, Novembre FJ, Villinger F, Johnson WE, von Gegerfelt A, Felber BK, Ruprecht RM. Live attenuated Rev-independent Nef¯SIV enhances acquisition of heterologous SIVsmE660 in acutely vaccinated rhesus macaques. PLoS One 2013; 8:e75556. [PMID: 24098702 PMCID: PMC3787041 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Accepted: 08/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rhesus macaques (RMs) inoculated with live-attenuated Rev-Independent Nef¯ simian immunodeficiency virus (Rev-Ind Nef¯SIV) as adults or neonates controlled viremia to undetectable levels and showed no signs of immunodeficiency over 6-8 years of follow-up. We tested the capacity of this live-attenuated virus to protect RMs against pathogenic, heterologous SIVsmE660 challenges. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Three groups of four RM were inoculated with Rev-Ind Nef¯SIV and compared. Group 1 was inoculated 8 years prior and again 15 months before low dose intrarectal challenges with SIVsmE660. Group 2 animals were inoculated with Rev-Ind Nef¯SIV at 15 months and Group 3 at 2 weeks prior to the SIVsmE660 challenges, respectively. Group 4 served as unvaccinated controls. All RMs underwent repeated weekly low-dose intrarectal challenges with SIVsmE660. Surprisingly, all RMs with acute live-attenuated virus infection (Group 3) became superinfected with the challenge virus, in contrast to the two other vaccine groups (Groups 1 and 2) (P=0.006 for each) and controls (Group 4) (P=0.022). Gene expression analysis showed significant upregulation of innate immune response-related chemokines and their receptors, most notably CCR5 in Group 3 animals during acute infection with Rev-Ind Nef¯SIV. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE We conclude that although Rev-Ind Nef¯SIV remained apathogenic, acute replication of the vaccine strain was not protective but associated with increased acquisition of heterologous mucosal SIVsmE660 challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddappa N. Byrareddy
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mila Ayash-Rashkovsky
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Victor G. Kramer
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sandra J. Lee
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Mick Correll
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Cancer Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Francis J. Novembre
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Francois Villinger
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Welkin E. Johnson
- Biology Department, Boston College, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Agneta von Gegerfelt
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Barbara K. Felber
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ruth M. Ruprecht
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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Virnik K, Hockenbury M, Ni Y, Beren J, Pavlakis GN, Felber BK, Berkower I. Live attenuated rubella vectors expressing SIV and HIV vaccine antigens replicate and elicit durable immune responses in rhesus macaques. Retrovirology 2013; 10:99. [PMID: 24041113 PMCID: PMC3849444 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-10-99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2013] [Accepted: 08/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Live attenuated viruses are among our most potent and effective vaccines. For human immunodeficiency virus, however, a live attenuated strain could present substantial safety concerns. We have used the live attenuated rubella vaccine strain RA27/3 as a vector to express SIV and HIV vaccine antigens because its safety and immunogenicity have been demonstrated in millions of children. One dose protects for life against rubella infection. In previous studies, rubella vectors replicated to high titers in cell culture while stably expressing SIV and HIV antigens. Their viability in vivo, however, as well as immunogenicity and antibody persistence, were unknown. Results This paper reports the first successful trial of rubella vectors in rhesus macaques, in combination with DNA vaccines in a prime and boost strategy. The vectors grew robustly in vivo, and the protein inserts were highly immunogenic. Antibody titers elicited by the SIV Gag vector were greater than or equal to those elicited by natural SIV infection. The antibodies were long lasting, and they were boosted by a second dose of replication-competent rubella vectors given six months later, indicating the induction of memory B cells. Conclusions Rubella vectors can serve as a vaccine platform for safe delivery and expression of SIV and HIV antigens. By presenting these antigens in the context of an acute infection, at a high level and for a prolonged duration, these vectors can stimulate a strong and persistent immune response, including maturation of memory B cells. Rhesus macaques will provide an ideal animal model for demonstrating immunogenicity of novel vectors and protection against SIV or SHIV challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Virnik
- Lab of Immunoregulation, Division of Viral Products, Office of Vaccines, Center for Biologics, FDA, NIH Campus, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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von Gegerfelt A, Valentin A, Alicea C, Van Rompay KKA, Marthas ML, Montefiori DC, Pavlakis GN, Felber BK. Emergence of simian immunodeficiency virus-specific cytotoxic CD4+ T cells and increased humoral responses correlate with control of rebounding viremia in CD8-depleted macaques infected with Rev-independent live-attenuated simian immunodeficiency virus. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2010; 185:3348-58. [PMID: 20702730 PMCID: PMC7316374 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1000572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Indian rhesus macaques infected with the Rev-independent live-attenuated SIVmac239 strains control viremia to undetectable levels, have persistent but low cellular and humoral anti-SIV responses, and show no signs of immune deficiency. To analyze the immune mechanisms responsible for viral control, five macaques infected at day 1 after birth were subjected to CD8(+) cell depletion at 6.7 y postinfection. This resulted in viremia increases to 3.7-5.5 log(10) RNA copies, supporting a role of CD8-mediated responses in the control of viral replication. The rebounding viremia was rapidly controlled to levels below the threshold of detection, and occurred in the absence of SIV-specific CD8(+) T cells and significant CD8(+) T cell recovery in four of the five animals, suggesting that other mechanisms are involved in the immunological control of viremia. Monitoring immune responses at the time of viral control demonstrated a burst of circulating SIV-specific CD4(+) T cells characterized as CD45RA(-)CD28(+)CD95(+)CCR7(-) and also granzyme B(+), suggesting cytotoxic ability. Control of viremia was also concomitant with increases in humoral responses to Gag and Env, including a transient increase in neutralizing Abs against the neutralization-resistant SIVmac239 in four of five animals. These data demonstrate that a combination of cellular responses mediated by CD4(+) T cells and humoral responses was associated with the rapid control of the rebounding viremia in macaques infected by the Rev-independent live-attenuated SIV, even in the absence of measurable SIV-specific CD8(+) T cells in the blood, emphasizing the importance of different components of the immune response for full control of SIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agneta von Gegerfelt
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Antonio Valentin
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Candido Alicea
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Koen K. A. Van Rompay
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
| | - Marta L. Marthas
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616
| | - David C. Montefiori
- Department of Surgery, Laboratory for AIDS Vaccine Research and Development, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710
| | - George N. Pavlakis
- Human Retrovirus Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Barbara K. Felber
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702
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The RNA transport element RTE is essential for IAP LTR-retrotransposon mobility. Virology 2008; 377:88-99. [PMID: 18485438 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2008.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2008] [Revised: 03/17/2008] [Accepted: 04/03/2008] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We previously identified an RNA transport element (RTE) present at a high copy number in the mouse genome. Here, we show that a related element, RTE-D, is part of a mobile LTR-retrotransposon, which belongs to a family of intracisternal A-particle related elements (IAP). We demonstrate that RTE-D is essential for the mobility of the retrotransposon and it can be substituted by other known RNA export signals. RTE-deficient IAP transcripts are retained in the nucleus, while the RTE-containing transcripts accumulate in the cytoplasm allowing Gag protein expression. RTE-D acts as a posttranscriptional control element in a heterologous reporter mRNA and is activated by the cellular RNA binding protein 15 (RBM15), as reported for the previously described RTE. We identified a complex family of RTE-containing IAPs in mouse and mapped the active RTE-D-containing IAPs to the Mmr10 group of LTR-retrotransposons. These data reveal that, despite a complex evolutionary history, retroelements and retroviruses share the dependency on posttranscriptional regulation.
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Felber BK, Zolotukhin AS, Pavlakis GN. Posttranscriptional Control of HIV‐1 and Other Retroviruses and Its Practical Applications. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY 2007; 55:161-97. [PMID: 17586315 DOI: 10.1016/s1054-3589(07)55005-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara K Felber
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
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Smulevitch S, Bear J, Alicea C, Rosati M, Jalah R, Zolotukhin AS, von Gegerfelt A, Michalowski D, Moroni C, Pavlakis GN, Felber BK. RTE and CTE mRNA export elements synergistically increase expression of unstable, Rev-dependent HIV and SIV mRNAs. Retrovirology 2006; 3:6. [PMID: 16412225 PMCID: PMC1363727 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-3-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2005] [Accepted: 01/13/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies of retroviral mRNA export identified two distinct RNA export elements utilizing conserved eukaryotic mRNA export mechanism(s), namely the Constitutive Transport Element (CTE) and the RNA Transport Element (RTE). Although RTE and CTE are potent in nucleocytoplasmic mRNA transport and expression, neither element is as powerful as the Rev-RRE posttranscriptional control. Here, we found that whereas CTE and the up-regulatory mutant RTEm26 alone increase expression from a subgenomic gag and env clones, the combination of these elements led to a several hundred-fold, synergistic increase. The use of the RTEm26-CTE combination is a simple way to increase expression of poorly expressed retroviral genes to levels otherwise only achieved via more cumbersome RNA optimization. The potent RTEm26-CTE element could be useful in lentiviral gene therapy vectors, DNA-based vaccine vectors, and gene transfer studies of other poorly expressed genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Smulevitch
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Jenifer Bear
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Candido Alicea
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Margherita Rosati
- Human Retrovirus Section, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Rashmi Jalah
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Andrei S Zolotukhin
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Agneta von Gegerfelt
- Human Retrovirus Section, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Daniel Michalowski
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Christoph Moroni
- Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie Universitaet Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - George N Pavlakis
- Human Retrovirus Section, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
| | - Barbara K Felber
- Human Retrovirus Pathogenesis Section, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
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